Extension stepladder



NOV. 24 1925.

J. F. LEICHT EXTENS ION STEPLADDER Filed March 14. 1924 Patentek1 Nov.24, 1925 EXTENSION S'IEPLADDEIR.

Application fi1ed 1lia1eh 14, 1924.

T0 all whom z't may oon-cmm:

Be it kn0wn that 1, JOHN 1*. LEICHT, a citizen 01E the United States,residing at Shelby, in the county 015 Oceana und. Stute 01 Michigan,have invented certain new and usetfu1 1mprovements in ExtensionStep1adders, of which the following is a spec1fication.

'1he present invention relates t0 a c0m binec1 step and extension ladderund is primari1y intenc1ed t0 be usec1 by gardenerg in trimming f1uittres 017 collecting 1ruit and tending to the trees in general.

T116} main object 01 the invention 15 to pro vide a 1adr1er 01 thischaracter which can be folded mic1way between its two ends thusproviding a stepladder, the free enc1 0f the extension ortion 01 theladder resting 0n the ground.

Another object 01 the invention is to provide a1a 1der that can beextended by swingi.ng adjustment 01 its e'xtension portion und byfir1n1y locking the extension and base portions together.

VVhen in extended osition the sic1e rai1s 01 the extension ortion f01mstmight 0011- tinuations 01 the side rai1s 01 the base por t'1on und thenrrangement is such that the lower ends 01 the base portion 01 theladc1er are spread W011 apart while the upper e11c1 01 the ladder istapered to a point.

111 the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view 01 the lad der adjusted '1'i01' use as astepladder;

Figure 2 i.s a side e1evation 01 the ladder in an extended ositionleaning agalnst the trunk 01 a tree;

Figu1e 3 is a fragmentary freut e1evation 0f the midd1e portion 01E theladder;

Figure 4. is a fragmentary vertical BBC- ti0n showing the means 'f01lockingthe sections in extendec1 relation, anc1 1*.igure 5 is a freutelevation 01 the ladc1er extended 2u1d shown 011 21- smaller seale.

111 the dmwing, reference numeral 10 indicates t11e Dass section 01 theladder anc1 11 t1m extemion section thereof. '1he base sec ti0n 10 hastwo side rai1s 12 which are inc1ined upmurd1y with relation t0 each0the1 so that their lower ends 13 a1e further apart t1mn their uppe1ends 14. Between these side rai1s are supported 21 plurality 01: steps01 1rungg 15 111'1111j/ secured 111 the side rails in the usua1 manner.

11t the lower end 01 the base section 10 am two side braces 16, theupper ends 0f LSefia1 1 10. 699,248.

which 211e secumd 215 =at 1T t0 tne rai1s 12 21 s1mrt c1istance ub0re11m .1ower encls 13 there- 01. These braces me disposed at an acut@ ng1et0 the sid0 mi1s 12, as b0st seen in ig. 1 und hold in such position byspacing blocks 18 and a tension 10 1 10 which 1s secured thmugh thesich: rai1s 12 anal the braccs 10. '111e 10we1 (311(1S 01 the braccs 16m:e slight1y raise 1 above the ends 13 01 the side 1'11s 12 1f01' thepurpose 01 permitting said HC1S 13 t0 11111111}! engago in the .gr0undt0 prevant any displacoment 01 the sic1e rails. 111 this manner when theenc1s 13 01 the side 1ai15 have pcnetratec1 (1@6p enough int0 theegroun=c1 the 1mver ends 20 0'f the braces W111 also ongage t11e ground.

'1he extension s ;ti0n 11 01 the 1adder con sists 01 two .side ra'11s 21united by steps 01 rungs 22 in the S( manner as alreac1y de scribed withregmfll t0 the base sectlon 10 013 t11e step1adder. '1he .side 121i1s 21have preierab1y the .saxns inc1ination with relation to ench 0ther asthe sid.e mi1s 12 01 the base secti0n 01 11110 1ac1der so thatwhen the1addm is e:atended (110 sich: 1ails 01 the extension section formstraight continuations 0f the sich mils 12 o1 the base scction, as bestseen in 1*ig. 5.

Between the oute1 ends 01 the s'1de rai1s 21 is insertecl a fi1lingpiece 23 which is bolted 01' riveted t0 the side rai1s 21 as best seenin Fig. l. This filling piece 23 projects a short distance beyond theends 01 the side mils 21 in 01der t0 1"01n1 a spur 01 toe 24 adapted t0penetmte into the ground when the steplad ier is used, as seen in Fig.l.

The immer enc1s 25 01 the rails 01 the extension section 01 the laddereure connected with the corresponding ends 01? the mils 12 by means 01hinges 26 secured t0 the rails in such a mzmner that when the extensionsection 11 is swung upwardly the flat ends 14 01 the side 1ails 12,. 01the section 10, Will form abutments 101 the simi1arly shaped ends 25 0'fthe sich 1z1ils 12 of the extension section 01 the lac1der. 111 thismanner when the ladder 13 erected, as seen in Fig. 2, lean- 111g againsta tree, t rigid connection W111 be formed between the extension sectionand base section 01 the ladc1e1. 111 order t0 prevent the lac1c1er'f10111 collapsing when moved f10111 one tree t0 another and to renderthe connection between the sections still more rigid, a yoke 27 isprovided at the hinged end 01 the extension section 11. This yokeprefembly comprises two flat straps 28 whieh are bolted m riveted 011the front fnces 0f the respective side lai1s 21 und pmject 21 sufficiendisfance beyond the ends 25, of the ruils 0f the extension swtciion 11,10 overlup the front faces 0if the ends 1% 0f the rai]s 0f the basesection 0f the luddel'.

In 01'de1 that the straps 28 may be locked in overlapping engagemenrwith the ruils 12, the straps 28 are formod with longitudinal slots 29t0 acconnnodate locking 1nen1bers 30 nmunted upbn the upper ends 14 0fEhe side mils 12. These members zue prefembly L shap ed, as hast se =nin .Fig. 4-, und the latern11y turned end 81 of' cnch meznber is adaptedt0 engage flnough the s]o 29 in H10 CO1- responding strap 2b und fhen beturnvd, us shown in Figs. 2 und 3, t0 engage against the 0uter side 0fthe mrzesponding stmp 2%. Nute 32 and W115111'S 4:0 a1e fitted upon theends 0f the shzmks 015 the mmnbors 3 und :1but a gainst the rear i'wus;'E the side rails 12 und when the members 230 a1e turned so (hat theirangularly projvcfing iocking purti ms 3l extend npw:ardly, thvseportiuns i the locking members nmy readily engage through the slots 29when th0 extensions ure m0ved nb0ut their hinges 26 t0 assume an ulinedrelation, the rotatiwe adjustment 0f the said 1ne1nbers 30 t0 positionwith thei1 locking portions 31 projecting downwardly, serving t0 bringthese porci0ns into engagement with the 0uter sides 0f the respectiveshap extensions at the I0wer ends 0f the slofs 29. The free ends of theStraps 28 are cunnected by mezxns 0.f a reinforcing stmp 33 which isrivctod m the sfrups 28, zu1d has its 27 b(=ni. :x rigllbnnglo3, 215 ut3T, h engagc the sides 0'f the side 1ails 12.

\Vhvn the basc und oxtension sections of the ladder am locked iogetherin this manner ehe ludder can be employed as an ordinary 1:2dde1 and hasthe advantage 0Ve1 ordinary ludders, that ifs base is incrensed in widthby the sprea 0ut braces l(i. By theengagement 0' the ends 13 0f the siderails 12 in the ground slipping 01 the lndder is prevented.I*u1fher1noro whon used 215 a stepladder the spnr 24 will also vnfer1110 ground und prevent slipping 01 the extension secfi.on 01 the ]l::?dor avcuy i10111 thu b: SG ;ecti011.

H:.zving ihm-1 desc-ribed the invention, whut 591 Main1ed as 110W is:

in extension ludder comprising complemonhxl sections hingedly connected,euch sec- 1io11 induding Sidu mils, lockinq me1nbers 1 Iatubly m mntedupon the 1'21S 0f 0ne secti n a s1101t distzmce 1i'1'011 tihe hingedjoint, hm;gitudinnl SUiPS secured t0 the 1ai]s 0f' the the1 section undprojecting t0 overlap the hinge j0int und enguge the rails 01 the sec 1im ("iUi'j/i? tho locking nuzmbers und slottwl tu re zewe he llii'(l, unda tmnsverse strip co1me0ting thc slotted ends of the longitudinal stripsund having their oute1 ends bent laterally t0 cmbrace the 0ute1 sides offl2 mils czurrying the locking members whon the lnddel' is cxtended.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN F. LEICHT.

